Ich will dich!

Santori Stories #5

by Leslie Kelly

Es begann im "Leather and Lace", als Izzie getanzt hat …

Tagsüber arbeitet Isabella in einer Bäckerei, aber an den Wochenenden tritt sie unter dem Namen "Crimson Rose" - purpurne Rose - maskiert in einer Stripteaseshow auf. Als eines Abends ihre Jugendliebe Nick in den Club kommt, gibt Isabella der Versuchung nach und tanzt in dieser Nacht nur für ihn … Dass Nick sowohl ihre verruchte Seite als auch ihre züchtige Seite kennenlernt, reizt sie auf besondere Weise - bis er hinter das Verwirrspiel kommt.

Genres: Romance, Harlequin Blaze, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Harlequin, Fiction, Ebooks

144 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2007

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

New York Times Bestselling author, Leslie Kelly writes sexy romances and dark romantic thrillers. A four-time RWA RITA Award nominee, eleven-time Romantic Times Award nominee and 2006 RT Award winner, Leslie has become known for her delightful characters, sparkling dialogue, and outrageous humor in her romances, and for the dark grittiness of her thrillers. Since the publication of her first book in 1999, Leslie has gone on to pen more than forty sassy, sexy romances for Harlequin Temptation, Blaze, and HQN.

In 2009, Leslie began tapping into her love for dark suspense by penning several books under the pseudonym Leslie Parrish. The Black CATs and Extrasensory Agents series quickly put Leslie on the must-read list of romantic-suspense fans.

Tired of writing under various names, Leslie decided to go into her next genre--futuristic thrillers with a suspense element--under her real name. She released her dark, gritty Veronica Sloan books, and reissued the Black CATs series, as Leslie A. Kelly.

Leslie lives in Denver with her husband Bruce--her real-life romance hero. Visit her online at lesliekelly.com (for her sexy romances) or at leslieAkelly.com (for her romantic suspense.)

Reviews

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great little read. I really enjoyed the characters.

"Isabella Natale is living a double life. By day she turns out desserts in the family bakery. But at night she transforms into The Crimson Rose, Chicago's hottest exotic dancer, an enigmatic siren whose velvet mask and G-string drive men wild. Nobody knows about her secret—not even Nick Santori, the strip club's hot new bodyguard…and her first crush. He'd always treated little "Izzy" as just another sweet kid. But there's nothing sweet about his sizzling reaction to Rose….

So what's a girl to do but show the man of her dreams that while it's okay to look, it's much better to touch?"

I loved the way Isabella was written. She was strong, independent, and family oriented. Nick being the man she has always loved has his own trials and tribulations to get passed, but Izzy is all grown up and is ready to have something more and oh boy does Nick get more then he asked for. You got the chance to know their family and friends which made it more personal for me. There is also a side story that I was quickly involved in and dying to know what happens.

I believe their will be a next book to catch you up on Izzy and Nick. Also, I'm looking forward to the next couple of stories about the side characters that were mentioned. I mean who doesn't like happy endings?

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

You will NEVER look at a cannoli in the same way after reading this book!

[ThePerpetualBookJunkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

After I read this story, I knew I would never look at cannoli the same way again without being made hot all over! Who would ever think that the ultimate Italian dessert could be placed and eaten just about anywhere other than a plate?!!! Hmm, scrumptious!

Izzie Natale and Nick Santori’s characters were a volatile combination. They sizzled, sparkled and just plain explosive together. After years of not seeing each other, a lot of things obviously changed for them. Izzie was not the same chubby girl who used to have a perpetual crush on Nick Santori and whom he used to ignore. Now, she’s confident, sassy and very, very sexy. Things that he would never expect little Izzie to be someday. Was he ever stunned to discover that the very sexy woman who gave him the ultimate brush-off in the Santori’s Pizzeria was none other than Izzie herself which left him dazed and confused. But one thing he was sure of, he wanted her at any costs!

Overexposed was a very fun and sexy read. Although the two characters have had issues about themselves and their family to resolve, the story had not lost its appeal and humor never left its every page. It has some suspense in it but not heavy in a way as it would interfere in the romance of the story. And Izzie’s other persona added spice in her relationship with Nick. All things considered, it was a treat to an otherwise boring Christmas vacation! Totally loved it. I can’t wait for the next Santori’s story!

[Izandra Mascarenhas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Para um livro do gênero "hot", está excelente. A autora explora a sensualidade, e não apenas a sexualidade. Constrói bem os personagens e suas personalidades, desenvolvendo bem o relacionamento de Izzy e Nick. Excelente =)

[Kleeniheleni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Das Cover passt nicht gut zum Buch. Es gibt zwar einige Sexscenen, aber das Cover lässt auf ein SM-Buch schließen, was es nicht ist. Die Liebesgeschichte zwischen den beiden Protagonisten hat mir sehr gut gefallen.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book- very steamy but quite imaginative. It moved along well and had a few surprises and funny parts.

[Kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

I could have passed on this one... Waste of time for my part. It was kind of unrealistic.

[Jo Reads Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting and sexy Blaze romance
5 stars

Isabella 'Izzy' Natale is less than pleased that she's back working in her family's bakery rather than working as a dancer as was her dream. So now she's leading a double life: by day she turns out decadent desserts and by night she transforms into Chicago's hottest exotic dancer.

Nick Santori is finally out of the army and less than pleased to be back with his over-protective family who just want him to find a 'nice girl' and settle down. His reaction to Izzy is anything but nice even if he barely recognises the girl who once had a crush on him as a teenager. But he definitely notices her now.

So what's a girl to do but show the man of her dreams that little Izzy is now very much grown up?

This is another addition to Kelly's Santori's of Chicago series and it is a fantastic book to join the set. If you're keeping up with the family - the book gives you opportunity to catch up with couples from previous books but it does stand alone so there is no need to have read any of the others before reading this one for it to make sense.

With this particular book - I was quite surprised that I not only liked Izzy but identified with her as well. She's sharp, confident and sassy and I loved her! Nick is such a fantastic hero too and the perfect partner for Izzy. Sexy, rugged and tough with a lovely boyish streak in him, he's someone you wish you could have all for yourself! And as I said, the pair work very well together and their chemistry fairly burns up the pages - just delicious.

The plotline is interesting, not in the least bit sleazy and not once relies on boring clichés or obvious tricks. I felt that the history of Nick and Izzy was so strong that you were really cheering for the pair to sort things out and get together - not that the journey to get to the happy ending wasn't very satisfactory to read!

The story is very well developed with writing that is typical of Leslie Kelly - fun, sexy and engaging. If you're looking for a well-written and hot story with just a smidgen of naughtiness then this is definitely the book for you. Highly recommended.

[Tiblu · Rating 3 out of 5]

To good for two stars but I hated it.

I think once upon a time I must have liked this,it’s been on my kindle a long,long time.
But just now reading it ,I loathed it.
Nick is a one dimensional d nugget
and Izzie is just an idiot.
He’s a judgmental prick, who judges whoa good enough to date and who’s just good enough by what their doing to get by.
Izzie can’t just tell a guy,I’m avoiding getting close to you because I’m terrified of getting pulling back into my old life.
Soo she runs around the neighborhood and avoids him and acts like a hormonal B. That is til she can’t take it no more and does him in the floor of a bakery truck. But since her verbal skills aren’t as good as a five year olds,the stupid starts avoiding him again even though she’s been flirting with him at her other job.
A job at which when the hypocritical judgmental prick realizes it’s her ,he somehow makes her feel guilty for not telling him.
Why ?
I can get her owing him an apology for her immature BS hot 🥵 and cold 🥶 games but not telling him she was an exotic dancer ?
Why was it his business ?
They’re “ in laws” but barely anything else. They don’t really seem like friends and while Nick chased after her thinking ,” so what it’s been ten years,your still supposed to want me.”
These were just running in circles . Making themselves dizzy and me bored . Bored and angry I was here wasting my damn time.
Sorry folks but when he went to offer her Chinese food so she could apologize and then rush off to have sex, I was out .
I don’t do clean books but I didn’t give a good beaver about these two enough to be their voyeur.
They can do it w/ out me.
These two are stupid and thoughtless,shallow and one dimensional. I spent so much time in Izzie’s head full of thoughtless fluff and I just had to be free.
Can’t wait to go and delete .
Either I’ve grown as a reader,or I never liked this and forgot or ?
I don’t know. But if I ever liked this I’m soo grateful I’ve grown.

[Limecello]

So it's now 9/4/21 but it's been over a week since I was reading it ...


>.> I'm 70% sure I read this when it came out ...
But ... it was always "THAT. BOOK." and people talked about it in almost like hushed reverent tones you know?
But I read "that scene" [the cannoli one] and ... 🤷🏻‍♀️

Anyway ... the heroine does burlesque. Like ... I don't know why so much is put into "SHE'S A STRIPPER BUT NOT AND IS A SPECIAL SNOWFLAKE BUTTERFLY UNICORN AND NOT TRASHY LIKE THE OTHERS" like ... damn.
She's a fucking burlesque dancer. That's great.
You also don't need to 😒 at the other dancers ...
so *shrugs*


Also this is a YMMV thing - I checked and this book was published in 2007 I believe? [It's also been a while since ... all the things] - but the book has the hero just coming home from [Iraq? Afghanistan?] -> So :X also maybe not the best time to be reading this considering the evacuation that had been happening IRL ...

But I distinctly remembering all my friends and former classmates who had been deployed had to first go to ... whatever "camp"/"re civilizing" [their words] things before returning home instead of getting back from deployment and going straight home ... so I don't know if that was "official policy" or because of what the people in the military I knew were doing or what but .... that was another thing.

Then also the whole "I don't belong" and "if I date you then everyone will expect us to get married" O_o and ... the weird ... when she was young wrapping her legs around him while they crashed on the wedding cake?
It was ....

So much was OTT

And I did want to know what happened but a lot was also 😒

And TBH what REALLY decided it all for me - because I was still game for trying to finish it - or at least read/skim the last quarter or so ...
My library loan ended 🙃 so I was like "I guess that's a sign..."

[Loucy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pas mal, mais la pseudo intrigue policière est un peu légère. Et pour un roman "passion, il est assez soft.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

HBZ #347

[Musing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes you open a book to read it with little expectation. That was the case for Overexposed by Leslie Kelly, for me. However, little did I know, that I would devour a quick, fun and sexy romance. It was delicious!

The plot was fairly simple. Two families of Chicago's 'Little Italy', one with loads of boys, and one with three lovely daughters. One sweet daughter crushed on one of the sexy, sweet boys, but went largely unnoticed by said son. For around twelve years, they were separated by life. Time passes, they meet again. Boy wants girl, and girl tries to resist. Cute. Sweet. Fairly predictable, with a little mystery and tension thrown in successfully too.

We enter the story when unattached son, Nick Santori, returns to the family home, from years of active service as a Marine, unsure of which direction his life would take. He didn't feel ready to assume the family's role for him in the Italian restaurant, but had been feeling the pull to have what his siblings had. Family. This guy was one of those tall, dark and gorgeous Heros who you just had to adore. He wasn't a womanizer, he wasn't particularly arrogant, but was a gentleman, intense, and, thank you Leslie Kelly, a hot, hot lover.

Said daughter, went by the name of Crimson Rose two nights a week, but was otherwise known as Izzie Natale, the girl who had gone to New York to pursue her dreams of being a dancer, and to rid herself of her other, not so circumspect dreams of ruggedly handsome Nick.

But, then they meet. Back on home turf. The attraction was intense and not only because of the "simmering sensuality of this one, sexy man", but because of their deeply fused souls, which seemed to draw each other closer in an unexpected connection.

Overexposed was a delightful book to read. There were some scintillating, sensual scenes to get your heart pumping, beautifully entwined with a deeper story of two people finding their way in life. A life that didn't quite fit into the neat and tidy roles that their families expected of them. A life that could be filled with love, acceptance and, okay, yes I am thinking, sizzling, sexy sex!

Written in third person, you will enjoy being inside the minds of both heroine and Hero. Sit back, enjoy the sensual and sweet feast, swoon a little, laugh a little, enjoy.

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isabella Natale has returned to Chicago to help out in her family's bakery after years of living and dancing in New York. An injury put a kink in her plans, but she fully intends to return to Manhattan as a choreographer or dance instructor as soon as she's no longer needed at home. To appease her need to dance (and to rebel a little), she secretly works as a stripper.

Nick Santori, her sister's brother-in-law and her own teenage crush, has recently returned to the old neighborhood after 10 years in the Marines. While he doesn't recognize her at first, Nick is instantly attracted to Izzie and pursues her. She doesn't want to get tangled up with a neighborhood boy and get trapped in a life she already tried to escape once.

Nick's not exactly comfortable with the life his family wants to tie him to in Chicago either. He takes a bodyguard job at Izzie's club on the side to escape the family pizzeria and explore a possible alternative career. When he learns that the neighborhood girl he's pursuing and the sultry dancer who tried to seduce him are the same woman, the story takes off.

The characters were real and likable - not just the hero and heroine. I liked some of the turns the plot took and how Leslie Kelly handled the various conflicts the characters faced. My experience was a little strange, because I read this after One Wild Wedding Night (Harlequin Blaze #369)(Encounters) and have read none of the previous books in the Santori family series. The books stand alone, but it's fun to see a story chronologically, so I may try to read as much of it as I can (library resources permitting).

[Beate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meine Meinung:
Izzy, ist eine ganz bezaubernde junge Frau, die von New York wieder nach Hause gekommen ist, um in der Bäckerei ihrer Eltern auszuhelfen.
Nebenbei kann sie ihrer Leidenschaft am Wochenende als Crimson Rose ausleben. Sie liebt es zu tanzen und lässt ihre erotische Seite nach außen zeigen, ohne das jemand bemerkt, wer sie wirklich ist.
Dann taucht Nick auf. Ein Mann den sie schon in ihrer Jugendzeit geliebt hat und er nie an ihr interessiert war.
Nick kommt nach jahrelangem Aufenthalt im Nahen Osten endlich wieder nach Hause. Beruflich steht er an einem Wendepunkt. Möchte er in das elterliche Unternehmen einsteigen oder ganz etwas anderes.
Als Nick Izzy wieder sieht, ist das Interesse und das Verlangen nach ihr so groß, wie nie zuvor, doch sie ist sauer, da er sie im ersten Moment nicht erkannt hatte. Früher war Izzy ein Pummelchen und heute ist sie eine bildhübsche Frau.
Aber Nick gibt nicht auf. Immer wieder besucht er sie in der Bäckerei und am Ende wird sie doch schwach.
Das Izzy auch Crimson Rose ist hat er erkannt, nachdem er sie das erste mal nackt gesehen hatte.
Wird er das Geheimnis für sich behalten?

Eine kleine Nebengeschichte gibt es auch in diesem Buch. Eine Freundin von Izzy, Bridget ist vernarrt in einen Mitarbeiter bei ihrer Arbeitsstätte. Sie gibt alles, um das Interesse an ihr zu wecken, doch er scheint sich nur um den Betrieb zu kümmern. Später stellt sich auch heraus, wieso das Interesse weniger ihr galt, doch dann war es für Dean zu spät.

Ich will Dich hat mich völlig verblüfft. Leslie Kelly hat mit sanfter und kribbelnder Erotik das Buch zu einem Highlight gemacht. Die Liebesgeschichte zwischen Izzy und Nick war sehr erregend und zu keiner Zeit vulgär.

Mein Fazit:
Es war schade, dass es so schnell zu Ende war, aber ich wurde nicht enttäuscht. Es war ein sehr prickelnd und erotischer Roman, tolle Charaktere und ein wenig Spannung waren auch dabei.

Meine Bewertung: 5/5

[Molly B · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mhmmm... Bueno por donde empezamos?
Empecemos por preguntarme por qué diablos decidí leer esta historia. Sí, porque me gustan las historias de mujeres bailarinas de striptease/ prostitutas/ estrellas porno... en fin, todo lo pervertido... Pero... no conocía ni al autora, ni la serie (mucho menos que estaba ya empezada) ni nada... todo era una receta para llevarme una desilusión. Y asi fue :(
Lectura sosa, personajes sosos. Sexo malo.
Pero si hubiese sido malo, hubiera dicho malo y ya.
Pero fue malo y asqueroso!!!! Nunca me gusto ni disgustó el sexo junto a la comida... pero que te llenen el cuerpo de ricota? Puaj!

[Nadjab · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zum Inhalt: Isabella Natale, von allen nur Izzy genannt, arbeitet tagsüber in der Bäckerei ihrer Familie und nachts am Wochenende als Entkleidungskünstlerin und Hauptattraktion in einem Club. Diese beiden Leben scheinen sich nicht zu vertragen, vor allem als Nick Santori nach Jahren bei der Marine nach Chicago wieder kommt. Er war ihr Schwarm früher und während er ihr tagsüber hinterhersteigt und sie verführen will, beschützt er sie nachts in dem Club als Bodyguard.

Meine Meinung: Beide Charaktere waren mir symphatisch. Beide sind in eine Familie hineingeboren, in denen die Familie ganz vorne steht und sie eigentlich in dem jeweiligen Familienbetrieb, Pizzeria und Bäckerei, arbeiten soll. Aber beide sind nicht so glücklich damit und versuchen ihren Platz in der Welt zu finden. Dabei ist zwischen ihnen beiden eine sexuelle und emotionale Anspannung zu sehen, die sich ab und an entladen muss. Ein romantischer, erotischer Roman.

Gesamtfazit: Ein romantischer, erotischer Roman über zwei Personen, die ihren Platz in der Welt finden müssen.

[LaFleurBleue · Rating 2 out of 5]

Entertaining and not taxing read, out of which it's better not to expect too much.
Characterization remain limited, character development is close to nil. The romance blossomed out of pure physical attraction, that almost magically appeared between 2 people, wherever they were and whatever they were doing, even when hiding or masquerading as someone else. Realism was definitely not a forte of the storyline there.
It also felt like at least 1/4th of the book content was either teasing, foreplay or actual intercourses between the characters. Therefore believing in their ever lasting and meaningful love was not that easy to do.
I will not willingly look forward another book from this author.

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bei dem Buch handelt es sich um eine Liebesgeschichte, die leider trotz der spannenden Idee in Klischees verhaftet bleibt. Hat man sich aber erst mit dieser Tatsache angefreundet, bleibt schneller, vergnüglicher Lesegenuss. Einen Punkt muss ich abziehen, weil für mich die Geschichte mit der Drohung nicht genug ausgearbeitet ist, die angedeutete Liebesgeschichte zwischen Bridget und Dean irgendwie nicht dazu passt und mir das Ende dann zu kitschig war, obwohl ich mich eigentlich darauf eingelassen hatte. Da ich aber drei Punkte nur dann vergebe, wenn ich das Buch neutral bewerte, macht das vier von fünf Sternen.

[Jess O. (From Jess to You) · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I liked the story. Izzie was a great character. 3 out of 5 stars. The only thing I didn't like was that behind the Izzie/Nick story .... there was a story of Izzie's cousin Bridget with her co-worker ... but they really didn't finish it well and just left it hanging. =0/ Which was disappointing."

Read more of this review here: https://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/2010/01/its-just-little-things-you-do-that.html

[Ker ᥫ᭡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

¡Me encantó!
Estos harlequines que salen del patrón millonario manipulador te chantajeo ¡ME ENCANTAN! Son abiertos, distintos... Esta novela en particular me gustó... Forma parte de 2 grupos a la vez: el club de las rebeldes y los hermanos Santori. La primera todos traducidos y la segunda solo en español la del gemelo de Nick... Tocará leerla en inglés...
La historia de prima de Izzie, Brigitte quedó inconclusa... Pero con un "final" bueno...

[Maharet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isabella Natale aveva un segreto...

una storia d'amore davvero bella...dopo molti anni Izzie torna nella sua città a gestire(forzatamente)l'attività di famiglia...stessa sorte per Nik,reduce dalla guerra dove era nei marines,torna a casa e aiuta nella pizzeria di famiglia...si ritrovano,si scontrano,si innamorano, tra tormenti,segreti,tentazioni peccaminose,tutto tra l'aroma di vaniglia,caffè, pizza e origano.Consigliato!!

[Tonileg · Rating 2 out of 5]

Une strip-teasuese et un ex-militaire pourront tomber amoureux l'en a l'autre? Allez voir comment ca se passera ... en plus ils sont des familles italiennes du même quartier de Chicago. Assez bien ecrit et traduit. 2 etoiles et gratuit sur kindle

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Schöne kleine Liebesgeschichte, aber leider alles viel zu unausgereift. man hätte noch viel mehr daraus machen können, besonders zum ende hin, als man die HintergrundCharaktere besser kennengelernt hat.

[December · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book - two characters who were believable in their stress from a big loving overwhelming family who thinks they know best.

[★Kayla★ · Rating 3 out of 5]

FUN! HOT! :)

[Rainey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great HQ Blaze novel. Really like this authors writing style.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good romance

[Laura's Book Addiction · Rating 2 out of 5]

ok read but more excited to read about Izzie's bridemaid's stories.

[Reagan Whitten · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will never look at another canolli the same again!! OMG